HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 117

(By Delegates Cooper, Ambler, Atkinson, Campbell, Espinosa, D. Evans, Kelly, Moye, Perdue, Rohrbach, Romine, Rowan, R. Smith and Wagner )

[March 11, 2016]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study of the Mountaineer ChalleNGE Academy to develop recommendations to enhance programs for at-risk youth in the State of West Virginia.

Whereas, In 1991 the Joint Armed Services Committee directed the National Guard to develop a plan to “add value to America” by providing values, skills, education and self-discipline to young people incorporating the structure and esprit de corps found in the military model and the National Youth ChalleNGE program began operating in 1993 under Public Law 102-484, with West Virginia as one of the original programs; and

Whereas, The Mountaineer ChalleNGE Academy is intended to train and mentor selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society using the Eight Core Components in a quasi-military environment during a twenty-two-week residential and one year post-residential follow-up program; and

Whereas, The Mountaineer ChalleNGE Academy gives at-risk youths a second chance at obtaining their basic education and potentially gaining their high school diploma; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia and its youth may benefit by expanding the ChalleNGE Academy or instituting other programs to help them become successful; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study other ways to provide additional support to develop and grow programs for at-risk youth, such as the ChalleNGE Academy, to explore the possibility of investing in a second ChalleNGE Academy program in West Virginia, and to assess the ability of establishing a National Defense Cadet Corps at West Virginia high schools that do not have Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature 2017 on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.